Evelyn's pearls

When my beloved grandmother died, I inherited her pearls: a classic strand, still carrying the faint, almost magical trace of her perfume. They reminded me of glamorous parties and precious moments throughout her life, all the places she had worn them, and the life they had witnessed.

Later, I was so lucky to come across a small lot of vintage glass trade beads. Crafted in Venice more than a century ago, the beads have had a life of their own, travelling far from their place of origin and carrying stories from many places and times.

I could not resist the urge to create a modern take on the classic pearl necklace. I paired the old glass with beautiful freshwater pearls, curious to see how it would change a classic design. It became less formal, more spontaneous, and a new way of wearing pearls.

I love the way the design turned out, and I will keep looking for lots of trade beads in all colours. Therefore, when I do find beads that I love, there will only be a limited number of them, keeping every pearl necklace unique.